Decision urged over Dinas Powys care home with one resident

A council been urged to to make an urgent decision on the future of a care home which has just one resident.

Bryneithin home, Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan is being kept open despite costing £450,000-a-year to run.

Councillor Chris Franks said he hopes the home has a future but wants the council to clarify.

Vale of Glamorgan council said it was looking at all options and would ensure the home met registration standards while any residents remained there.

Mr Franks, a Plaid Cymru councillor, said the local authority had planned in recent years to close the home.

However, it was discovered that residents had a contractual right to remain at the home until they died.

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Mr Franks said Bryneithin had provided an excellent service, and the planned closure had been handled in an "appalling manner with no consultation".

He called for urgent action to clarify the home's future, adding: "We shouldn't have got to this stage.

"The council needs to be clear what it intends."

"We believe there's a big future for the site for the care of the elderly and vulnerable.

"There's a very supportive local community and there's a huge, growing demand for the care of the elderly and vulnerable adults."

Lance Carver, Vale of Glamorgan's head of adult services, confirmed that the revenue spend on Bryneithin in 2011/2012 was £450,000.

"There was no capital expenditure last year," said Mr Carver. "However this does not mean that the ongoing costs will be the same now that there is only one resident.

"As ever, we are reviewing the care arrangements when things change at the home.

"We continue to ensure that the home meets registration standards with regard to staffing levels and maintenance and this will continue to be the case while any residents remain at the home."

Stuart Egan, council deputy leader, said the new Vale of Glamorgan administration, with Labour now the largest party, was having to reassess many of the services inherited from the previous administration.

"The council will take a balanced and reasoned decision having considered all of the facts with regard to the future at Bryneithin," said Mr Egan.

"Decisions this important should not be rushed and all the options about Bryneithin and the services provided will need to be considered properly.